elevating communities
towards a brighter
tomorrow
YEARBOOK 2023/24

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Yearbook 2023/24
Introduction

Health4All

Future4All

Our tenets and focus

Sight4All

STEAM4All

Messages from the board

Care4All

Excellence4All

2023/24 at a glance

Support4All

Tech4All

Volunteering

From the CEO’s desk

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

At Cognizant Foundation India,
we believe in creating a worldthat thrives on inclusion.
Our commitment is to ensure a better future for all by enabling
participation and access to resources and opportunities for themarginalised sections of society.
With inclusion, technology and collaboration at the heart of allthat we do, our programmes are designed and implemented toempower persons with disabilities, children and women to lead abetter quality of life.
Our objectives are to enable equal access to quality healthcare,promote STEAM, digital and inclusive learning in schools, facilitate
access to higher learning, provide techno-centric skilling and fostera sustainable livelihood. These interventions are aimed at elevating
communities and creating a brighter future where every individual
can lead a life of dignity.
Cognizant Foundation. Elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow.

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

OUR TENETS AND FOCUS

We leveragetechnology andcollaboration
Sight4All

for greater impact and aim topromote a culture of inclusion.
Our interventions are focused on
empowering the lives of the marginalised,primarily persons with disabilities,
children and women.

STEAM4All

fostering
genderequality

Exc
elle
n

ll

A
re4

Ca

empowering
persons withdisabilities
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ce
4

All

Su

4
ort
pp

Te
ch
4

All

All

promotingholistic childdevelopment
4

Messages fromthe boardIntroduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All“Cognizant Foundation’s
journey of transformationand impact is a reflection of
the power of collaboration.
Together, we will continue
to build a more inclusive,
equitable world, making
a lasting difference in the
lives of those who need it
the most.”

Future4All

Volunteering

As we reflect on the past year, I am proud of the progress we have made in the 20thyear of our commitment to corporate social responsibility. We have focused ourefforts on addressing the most pressing challenges of our society, such as healthcare,education, and skill development, with a special emphasis on women, children, andpersons with disabilities. Our interventions have improved lives and empowered
communities across India.
In my roles as both the CMD of Cognizant India and Chairman of Cognizant
Foundation, I can see the immense potential of technology to create positive social
impact. That is why we launched Tech4All, an initiative to promote inclusion anddiversity in the IT sector, by providing IT-based skills to young girls from underserved
backgrounds. When a girl child receives education and pursues a career in technology,
it not only breaks barriers but also changes the economic trajectory of her family.
Moreover, when more women join the technology workforce, it boosts innovation andprogress for the whole nation.
None of this would have been possible without the collaboration and support of ourpartners and stakeholders. I thank you for joining us in this journey of transformationand impact. As we move forward, let us continue to work together to build a more
inclusive, equitable, and prosperous India.
We remain committed to driving positive change and look forward to continuing thisjourney with you.

Rajesh Nambiar
Chairman, Cognizant Foundation India &Chairman & Managing Director, Cognizant India
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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All“In the area of public health,the prevention of blindness
in children has been mostrewarding.”

Future4All

Volunteering

Given the authority and commitment, high-tech and down-to-earth
community service can go together. That has been the experience of
Cognizant Foundation in the last twenty years. As funds flowed steadily,
community-centred projects in education with exposure to digital literacy
could be taken up. In the area of public health, the prevention of blindness inchildren has been most rewarding.
The role of Outreach, Cognizant’s in-house band of public-spirited youth, hasbeen remarkable. Their selfless service is reflected in the high quality of work
accomplished by them.

N. R. Krishnan, IAS (Retd.),
Director, Cognizant Foundation

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All“Through collaborative
efforts with dedicated andpassionate partners, we
strive to create pathways for
empowerment and successacross communities.”

Future4All

Volunteering

My passion for working towards accessible and affordable healthcare in India andmy decision to join Cognizant Foundation stemmed from the understanding that
health is a basic prerequisite of life. I am proud to say that Cognizant Foundation’s
Health4All projects are aimed to promote societal inclusion by bringing quality
healthcare within reach of the underserved across India.
Our efforts towards preventing avoidable blindness under our Sight4All
programs have enabled thousands of children and infants in the remotest areaof India receive better eyecare treatment. Not so long ago, we had a case ofan abandoned orphan infant in the Baripada forest in Odisha, discovered by
the locals, saved from a near death situation in the hospital, diagnosed withretinopathy of prematurity and treated by doctors over two stages as part of the
Cognizant Foundation supported screening program. Stories such as these show
the lasting beneficial impact of our work on society.
As we look forward to another year of service, I am inspired by the dedication andpassion of everyone involved with Cognizant Foundation. Together, we are creating
pathways for empowerment and success across diverse communities.

K. Balaji
Director, Cognizant Foundation

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All“At Cognizant Foundation,
we believe that our projects
provide skills for life toindividuals fromunderserved communities.”

Future4All

Volunteering

Cognizant Foundation is among the unique and very iconic institution, thatspecifically focuses on the socio-economic parameters or issues that are out there
in the country.
Cognizant Foundation supported initiatives particularly Tech4All and STEAM4All
promotes technical and inclusive education. Through these projects, we havewitnessed the positive impact on young underprivileged girls in higher education
institutions. They have been able to benefit from our programs focusing on various
aspects of digital and technical education. We believe that through our collective
efforts, we have made substantial strides in providing educational resources andopportunities that empower individuals and strengthen communities.
Looking ahead, let us continue to invest in the future by nurturing the potential of
all individuals through education and skill development. Together, we can build amore innovative and sustainable world for generations to come.

Dr. Nandini Rangaswamy
Director, Cognizant Foundation

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All“With the kind ofchanges that are going onin the world, the rich arebecoming richer and thegap between the rich andpoor is increasing.
We have a long way to go
to ensure there is equity
and fairness. That’s where
Cognizant Foundation
plays a crucial role.”

Future4All

Volunteering

We are celebrating our collective achievements and looking towards the
future with a profound sense of accomplishment and anticipation. Cognizant
Foundation is involved in education, healthcare, and is systematically promoting
inclusivity by providing employment opportunities to individuals who are
typically overlooked in the job market. I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the positive impact our technical training projects are having on people
with disabilities. Despite physical disabilities and incomplete education, these
individuals were able to receive training and secure employment with leading IT
firms thus empowering them to become bread earners for their families.
This year’s achievements reinforce our commitment to continue supporting
impactful initiatives that address critical needs and create a long-lastingchange.
Looking ahead, let’s continue to push the boundaries of innovation and action.

N. K. Ranganath
Director, Cognizant Foundation

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All“The true impact of our
projects lies in the lives
we uplift and the futures
we secure.”

Future4All

Volunteering

As a board member of Cognizant Foundation India, I am proud to bepart of a team that focuses on creating a sustainable ecosystem at theintersection of inclusion, technology, and collaboration. Our projects arecarefully selected based on viability, reach, and partner credentials, with aclear focus on future outreach to those in need.
We support education programs, including scholarships for higher
education and technical education, as well as initiatives to help
underprivileged students gain access to quality engineering colleges. As
part of project Dhyeya in partnership with Cognizant Outreach, we provide
fully funded scholarships to students to pursue a 4-year undergraduate
program in Engineering.
With our mission and vision to create a better tomorrow, we look forward to
striving for greater heights and deeper impact in the coming year.

Narayanan T.
Director, Cognizant Foundation

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Operational
Highlights

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

2023/24 at a glance
6,10,142
lives reached82
projects implemented
46
partners
Focused engagementin 9 States

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Introduction

Messages from the board

20thOperational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

year ofempowering change

The initiatives at Cognizant Foundation have been dedicated to making a meaningful
impact on individuals and communities in India. We have continuously evolved andexpanded our programs, focusing on education, livelihood, and healthcare to meetsocietal needs.
As we look back, we express our gratitude to Cognizant for their unwavering support.
We also acknowledge the efforts and involvement of our dedicated team members,
partners, and stakeholders who have been integral to the success of our various
initiatives. We are thankful to our primary stakeholders (beneficiaries) for trusting
us to make a difference in their lives. We are also grateful to Cognizant Outreachvolunteers who have participated across Cognizant Foundation supported projects
by volunteering their time, talent, and technology. The volunteers have created digitalstories, facilitated eye screening in schools, collected toys for donation to children ingovernment medical college hospitals, mentored young women trainees, and took
mock interviews for visually impaired trainees.
Moving forward, we remain committed to driving positive social impact, fostering
inclusive growth, and creating a better future for all.

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

2023/24 Impact in detail
Sight4All

Care4All

Support4All

4,18,361 lives impacted
by preventing avoidable
blindness among children
and adults in underserved
communities

93,479 lives impacted
by supporting
comprehensive maternaland child healthprogrammes

2,777 lives impacted byproviding comprehensive
early intervention andearly education support
for women and children

STEAM4All

Excellence4All

Tech4All

86,873 lives impacted
in government and lowincome private schools in
underserved communities

1,826 meritorious students
from disadvantaged
backgrounds supported
through merit-cummeans scholarships

6,826 learners impacted
through job-oriented andvocational training, witha focus on technology
based training

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

VolunteeringAwards and achievements

Special Category (Small)
9th CSR Impact Awards by CSRBOXWINNER

for

Project Blimey (STEAM4ALL)
in partnership with EnAble India

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7000+ babies screened & 765+ treatedSince September 2019 in Odisha
LANDMARKas part of

ROP Initiative (Sight4ALL)
in partnership with L.V. Prasad Eye Institute16

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

FROM THE CEO’S DESK

“We are well on our way
to pivot to a life cycle ofinterventions that provides
a continuum of support tothe underprivileged andunderserved communities.”

Future4All

Volunteering

At Cognizant Foundation, we remain focused in aligning to our strategy byimplementing select projects in the program areas within the themes of
Future4All and Health4All. We believe that this approach will enable us toestablish project benchmarks and develop knowledge artifacts which will
promote knowledge sharing in the CSR and impact ecosystem.
We are committed to strengthening the impact ecosystem as part of our project
implementations. We aim for sustainability of our projects as there is no better
success of the project than the community and the government institutions
adopting it.
I truly believe in the power of volunteers who share their time, talent, andtechnology to make a positive difference. We continuously work with ourpartners to enable Cognizant associates to volunteer in various projects thereby
nurturing a partnership between the corporate and community ecosystem.
We believe that giving back to the community is our duty. The entire board andthe Cognizant Foundation team is committed to increase our positive impact on
the society. We don’t measure our success just by the money we spend, or thenumber of hours put in by our volunteers. We measure our success by looking
at the number of lives we impact and the difference we make to the lives of thepeople.

Deepak Prabhu Matti
Chief Executive Officer, Cognizant Foundation India

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Health4All
Enhancing accessibility toquality healthcare

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

INTRODUCTION

Enhancing accessibility
to quality healthcare
The Indian healthcare system has undergone significant transformations over
the years, but still has several challenges to overcome including inadequate
infrastructure, shortage of trained professionals, and more. Cognizant Foundation
collaborates with credible not-for-profit organisations to reduce inequity in accessto high-quality healthcare.
INITIATIVES UNDER HEALTH4ALL

Sight4All

Care4All

Support4All

Enabling
lives throughtimely eyecare

Advancingcare for motherand child

Improvingcare for theunderserved

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Impact in detail
5,14,617
lives reached27
projects implemented
21
partners
Focused engagementin 9 states
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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Sight4All

Programme overview+ Preventing childhood
blindness

Enabling lives throughtimely eyecare+ Increasing access toquality eye care

Sight4All focuses on preventing avoidable blindness bymaking timely, affordable and quality eyecare services
accessible and affordable to underserved communities,
with special focus on children and adults. To this end,
Cognizant Foundation supports a number of programmes
ranging from screening of newborns and community
eye screening programmes for children and adults toequipment support for hospitals.
FOCUS AREAS

Preventing childhood blindness

Increasing access to quality eye care

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Programme overview+ Preventing childhood
blindness

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Impact in detail+ Increasing access toquality eye care

4,18,361
lives reached11
projects implemented

8
partners“The level of care and attention I
received from the Vision Centre
team before, during and after mysurgery was wonderful. Thanks
to Cognizant Foundation forsupporting such a great project.”“I have a son today and he cansee the world only because of
the Cognizant Foundation LVPEI team. I will always haveyou in my prayers and hopethat you’re able to help more
people.”Raman Bora*
Assam

Adoptive father of Baby Niranjan*
Odishayearbook 2023/24
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22

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview
Preventing childhood
blindness
Project focus+ Screening for andtreatment of ROP+ Increasing access toquality eye careCare4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Preventing childhood
blindness
Children can suffer from vision impairment due to a variety ofreasons ranging from the minor (refractive error) to the major(cataract, ROP, etc.). Early detection and treatment of theseeye conditions is critical for ensuring that they can grow up to
have fruitful lives of their own. In 2023/24, Cognizant Foundation
supported various initiatives which were aimed at preventing
avoidable childhood blindness in underserved communities.
KEY PROGRAMMESSchool and community eye screenings

Screening for and treatment of ROP

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview
Preventing childhood
blindness

Care4All

Health4All

Impact in detail+ Screening for and+ Increasing access toquality eye care

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Project focus

treatment of ROP

Future4All

3,23,838
lives impacted in 2023/24

4,600 neonates screened for ROP
3,19,238 children screened for vision defects
12,400 spectacles distributed
265 surgeries performed
759 school teachers trained in eye screening

Partners

LocationsDr. Shroff’s Charity Eye
Hospital

Tughlakabad in Delhi

L.V. Prasad Eye Institute15 districts in Odisha

Mission for Vision, H.V. Desai
4 districts in
Eye Hospital and Sankara
Maharashtra
Eye Hospital
Mission for Vision andLittle Flower Hospital

Ernakulam in Kerala

Mission for Vision andSankara Nethralaya

Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu

Mission for Vision, Sankara
Nethralaya and Siliguri
Greater Lions Eye Hospital

6 districts inWest Bengal

Pushpagiri Vitreo
Retina Institute3 districts in Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana

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24

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview
Preventing childhood
blindness
Project focus

Screening for andtreatment of ROP+ Increasing access toquality eye careCare4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

PROJECT FOCUS

Screening for andtreatment of ROP
The ROP screening and treatment initiative by Cognizant
Foundation caters to a highly vulnerable target group –prematurely born babies with health issues from underserved
communities. The Foundation’s efforts are aimed at ensuringthat these newborns don’t experience a lifetime of blindness,while easing the financial burden of parents.
Real-time ROP Telescreening (RRT) is a groundbreaking initiative
launched by LVPEI in Odisha, in partnership with Cognizant
Foundation. It involves imaging infants by paramedical staff
and synchronous monitoring of the images, analysis, and parent
counselling by an ROP specialist linked to the screening site in realtime over video-conferencing software.

211 newborns treated with injections
185 newborns treated with laser
35 successful surgeries performed
20 SNCUs supported
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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

DID YOU KNOW?

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a condition that affects preterm babies. It can manifest within 2-4 weeks of birth, and if left
untreated could lead to irreversible, lifelong blindness.
In 2023/24, Cognizant Foundation supported the screening
and treatment of ROP among underserved communities in
Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana.

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Introduction
Introduction
Overview

Messages
Messages fromfrom thethe board
board
Sight4All
Sight4All+ Programme overview+ Preventing childhood
blindness
Increasing access toquality eye care

Operational
Operationalhighlights
highlights

Care4All
Care4All

Health4All
Health4All

Future4All
Future4All

Volunteering

Support4All

FOCUS AREA

Increasing access toquality eye care
In 2023/24, Cognizant Foundation supported various projects
aimed at making eye care more accessible to those fromunderserved communities. This included supporting Vision
Centres in rural areas, implementing a tele-ophthalmology
assistance system and donating various advanced equipment
including a Phacoemulsification system to carry out safe
cataract surgeries.
Grabi: A smartphone attachment developed in partnership with
L.V. Prasad Eye Institute to enable efficient ophthalmic imaging andteleconsultation. The device is given to high-risk patients who aretrained using simple protocols. In conjunction with a customised
imaging software, it allows for greater efficacy and reduced cost.
2,673 patients were assisted using this system in 2023/24.
PROGRAMMES

Setting up and running of Vision Centres

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Technology and equipment-based support
27

Introduction
Introduction
Overview

Messages
Messages fromfrom thethe board
board
Sight4All
Sight4All+ Programme overview+ Preventing childhood
blindness

Care4All
Care4All

Operational
Operationalhighlights
highlights

Health4All
Health4All

Future4All
Future4All

Volunteering

Support4All

FOCUS AREA

Impact in detail

Increasing access toquality eye care

94,523
lives impacted in 2023/24

10 Vision Centres supported
55,738 patients screened for vision problems
6,456 spectacles distributed
3,017 surgeries performed
38,785 patients reached through equipment support

Partners

Locations

CBM India Trust, Mission for
Vision and St. John’s HospitalMultiple districts in
Karnataka

L.V. Prasad Eye InstituteMultiple districts in
Telangana

Mission for Vision, Operation
Eyesight India and Sri
Sankaradeva Nethralaya

5 districts in Assam

Operation Eyesight India andPune in Maharashtra
Community Eye Care Foundation
Operation Eyesight India, Lions
Seva Eye Hospital, Sundarban
Social Development Centre

4 districts inWest Bengal

Sankara Eye Hospital, Sri Kanchi
Kamakoti Medical Trust

Coimbatore andPammal in
Tamil Nadu

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28

DID YOU KNOW?

A Vision Centre is a small, permanent facility - strategicallyset up at the heart of the community - to provide primary eye
care services to remote semi-rural and rural communities.
Ophthalmic assistants operate the centre, but patients canconsult ophthalmologists at the base hospital for consultationand treatment through telemedicine.
Vision Centres supported by Cognizant Foundation are often the
only source of quality eye care in the region and all treatments –from prescription spectacles to surgery – are offered for free tobeneficiaries from low economic backgrounds.

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Care4All

Programme overview+ Enhancing maternal andchild health

Advancing care formother and child+ Strengthening heart andkidney health+ Improving health ofadolescent girls

Under Care4All, Cognizant Foundation focuseson improving health outcomes for mothers andnewborns through community-based interventions
and awareness programmes to reduce infant andmaternal mortality, and infant disability.
FOCUS AREAS

Enhancing maternal and child healthStrengthening heart and kidney health

Improving health of adolescent girls
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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Programme overview+ Enhancing maternal andchild healthCare4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Impact in detail+ Strengthening heart andkidney health+ Improving health ofadolescent girls

93,479lives reached13
projects implemented

10
partners“Thanks to the counselling I
received from the outreachworker, I was able to take careof myself better and give birth
to a healthy baby.”“There was a point, right before
my daughter was born, that
I thought we would lose her
forever. Thanks to Cognizant
Foundation’s help, she will havea long, beautiful future.”

Seema Khan*
Maharashtra

Jagadeeshwari*
Tamil Nadu

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview
Enhancing maternal andchild health+ Strengthening heart andkidney health+ Improving health ofadolescent girls

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Enhancing maternaland child health
Cognizant Foundation supported numerous initiatives aimed at
improving health outcomes for mother and child, with special
focus on high-risk pregnancies in underserved communities.
Project Suraksha, a five-year initiative, used technology to
improve impact while Project SAMARTH used capacity building
and community awareness efforts – from training of frontline
health workers to home-based counselling of beneficiaries – toimprove access to maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition.
KEY PROGRAMMES

Leveraging technology for newborn
post-discharge careFree automated voice calls on preventive
healthcare
Capacity building to transform labour anddelivery care
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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview
Enhancing maternal andchild healthCare4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Impact in detail+ Strengthening heart andkidney health+ Improving health ofadolescent girls

86,962
lives impacted in 2023/24

9,032 lactating and high-risk mothers supported
16,224 children provided with improved nutrition
38,325 individuals reached through automatedvoice calls on preventive healthcare
23,381 lives impacted through equipment support

Partners

Locations

ARMMAN, Committed
Communities Development
Trust

4 districts in
Maharashtra

EKAM Foundation,
IIT Madras, Rotary Club of
Madras East, Round Table
India Trust

6+ districts in
Tamil Nadu

People to People HealthFoundation

West Bengal

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33

DID YOU KNOW?

Cognizant Foundation partnered with Ekam in January 2023 to
implement a project to reduce neonatal, child, and maternal
deaths in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. Spread over 3 years,
it aims to reach 13,500 beneficiaries comprising 6000 high-risk
pregnant women and 7,500 high-risk children.
Capacity building is done by improving delivery care in thelabour room and maternity operation theatre at the Tiruvallur
Government Medical College Hospital and Kadambathur
PHC. The project endeavours to strengthen the existing
Government system and create a sustainable model by capacity
strengthening of key health workers to improve maternal andchildcare services.

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview+ Enhancing maternal andchild healthStrengthening heart andkidney health+ Improving health ofadolescent girls

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Strengthening heart
and kidney health
To make quality treatment accessible and affordable tounderprivileged children suffering from Congenital Heart
Diseases, Cognizant Foundation supported screening
camps, diagnosis, treatment, corrective surgeries andpost-treatment review. The Foundation is also supportinga research project to develop a non-invasive left ventricle
pressure loop (PV loop) using machine learning, for aperiod of 2 years. The Foundation also provided dialysis
support and haemoglobin injections for patients sufferingfrom Chronic Kidney Disease.
KEY PROGRAMMES

Screening & treatment of children with
Congenital Heart Disease
Leveraging Machine Learning to assess
ventricular volume

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Medical support for patients with Chronic
Kidney Disease35

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview+ Enhancing maternal andchild healthCare4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Impact in detailStrengthening heart andkidney health+ Improving health ofadolescent girls

5,414
lives impacted in 2023/24

2,919 children screened for heart defects

Partners

Location

Aishwarya Trust,
MGM Healthcare

Chennai,
Thiruvannamalai and
Vellore in Tamil Nadu

Tamilnad Kidney Research(TANKER) Foundation

Multiple districts in
Tamil Nadu

44 heart surgeries performed
24 patients provided dialysis support
850 patients provided free haemoglobin injections
1,621 lives reached through equipment support

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36

DID YOU KNOW?

Analysing the pressure-volume (PV) loop of the left ventricle
is critical for monitoring heart health, especially of those whohave suffered heart failure. Currently, there are no non-invasive
techniques that can accurately assess ventricular volume in aclinical setting.
The outcome of the research project supported by Cognizant
Foundation could have critical applications in patientmonitoring systems in the Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview+ Enhancing maternal andchild health+ Strengthening heart andkidney health
Improving health ofadolescent girls

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Improving health ofadolescent girls
Implemented to enhance the overall health of adolescent
girls in the urban slums of Kolkata, this project mainly
targets girls between 10-19 years of age (and some in
the 20-21 category). Through various interventions, it
demonstrates the importance of a healthy diet, hygienic
menstrual practices, vaccinations, effective use of theinternet and more. Along with awareness sessions theentire population (divided into 2 groups of 10-14 years and15+ years) also gets medical and nutritional support.

1,103
girls supported in 2023/24
Partners

Locations

Calcutta Rescue

Tangra, Garden Reach, Anandapur, Canal East,
Canal West and Topsia slums in Kolkata

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow38

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Support4All

Programme overview+ Building future potential ofchildren with special needs

Improving care for theunderserved+ Supporting persons withmental illnesses andtheir caregivers

According to the WHO, an estimated 16% of the global
population has a significant disability. Consequently,
they are more likely to have poorer health andexperience greater challenges on a day-to-day basis.
Under Support4All, Cognizant Foundation focuses on
improving overall health and everyday functioning of
persons with disabilities, especially children and thosewith mental illnesses.
FOCUS AREAS

Building future potential for children
with special needs
Supporting persons with mental
illnesses and their caregivers

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

39

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All

Programme overview+ Building future potential ofchildren with special needs+ Supporting persons withmental illnesses andtheir caregivers

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Impact in detail
2,777
lives reached3
projects implemented

3
partners“The change that this therapy
has brought in my son isunbelievable. I am thankful to
Cognizant Foundation for giving
us hope when it seemed lost.”

A lot of people told us that
our child will never be able totalk or walk properly. Thanks
to Cognizant Foundation’s
support, she is growing into abeautiful child.

Father of Suraj*West Bengal

Mother of Shraddha*
Karnataka

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow40
40

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview
Building future potential ofchildren with special needs+ Supporting persons withmental illnesses andtheir caregivers

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Building future potential ofchildren with special needs
In order to help children with special needs enjoy a happy
childhood and bloom into self-reliant and dignified membersof society, Cognizant Foundation supported projects which
provide appropriate rehabilitative and multi-therapy support
without straining the parents’ financial resources. This was
also augmented by awareness programmes that sensitise
the community to the need for early intervention. Ensuring
access to government support was also an important partof these initiatives.
KEY PROGRAMMESRehabilitative services for children

Early intervention and multi-therapy support

yearbook 2023/24
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41

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview
Building future potential ofchildren with special needs

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Impact in detail+ Supporting persons withmental illnesses andtheir caregivers

1,320
lives impacted in 2023/24

885 children supported through rehabilitative programmes

Partners

Locations

Hope Kolkata Foundation

Kolkata inWest Bengal

Association for People
with Disability

6 locationsin Karnataka

435 children reached through multi-therapy programmes
7 Government resource centres supported

yearbook 2023/24
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42
42

DID YOU KNOW?

For Children With Developmental Delays (CWDDs), early intervention isessential in building a foundation for physical, cognitive, language, socialand emotional growth. If these children are provided therapies that caterto their specific disability, there is no reason why they can’t enjoy a happy
childhood and bloom into self-reliant and dignified members of society.
But unfortunately, due to lack of available resources and high costs,
many CWDDs from socio-economically challenged families don’t get
the required support, leaving them staring at a lost childhood and bleak
future.
To improve the lives of children with special needs, Cognizant Foundation
has partnered with The Association of People with Disability to implement
a comprehensive early intervention and early education programme
which will support 1000 kids in 6 locations in Karnataka.

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Overview

Sight4All

Support4All+ Programme overview+ Building future potential ofchildren with special needs
Supporting persons withmental illnesses andtheir caregivers

Care4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

FOCUS AREA

Supporting persons
with mental illnesses
and their caregivers
Persons below the poverty line who suffer from mental
illnesses, and their caregivers, are given clinical and aftercare outpatient services through this project supported by
Cognizant Foundation. Created with an aim of decreasing
the burden of disease and reducing homelessness, thisproject promotes health and well-being among themarginalised and provides beneficiaries with security,
worthiness, and a sense of identity.

1,457
lives impacted in 2023/24

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

Partners

Locations

The Banyan

Chennai, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu
districts of Tamil Nadu
44

Future4All
Creating a better tomorrowthrough education and skillingIntroduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllINTRODUCTION

Creating a better tomorrowthrough education and skilling
Through Future4All, Cognizant Foundation supports programmes that are aimed
at uplifting individuals from underserved sections of society by improving accessto higher education, promoting digital and STEM learning, and facilitating skillingand vocational training in domains relevant in the modern world.

INITIATIVES UNDER FUTURE4ALL

STEAM4All

Excellence4All

Tech4All

Enabling
21st century
learning

Nurturing aspirations
through higher
learning

Inclusive growth,
powered bytechnology

yearbook 2023/24

elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow46

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

Impact in detail
95,525learners supported
55
projects implemented
27
partners
Pan-India impact withfocused engagementin 8 states
yearbook 2023/24

elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

47

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllSTEAM4All

Programme overview+ Promoting science anddigital learning

Enabling 21st century
learning+ Promoting inclusive
education

In the modern world, the importance of providing
quality STEAM education cannot be overstated. To drive
inclusive education and digital-based learning in schools,
Cognizant Foundation has partnered with reputed
organisations to develop programmes that focus on
capacity building of educators, enhancing digital literacy,
creating accessible STEAM learning resources and more.

FOCUS AREAS

Promoting science and digital learning
Promoting inclusive education

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow48

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All

Programme overview+ Promoting science anddigital learning+ Promoting inclusive
education

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

Impact in detail
86,873
lives reached15
projects implemented

10
partners“Science used to be my weakest
subject. But, because of thehands-on method of learning,
I am able to understandconcepts better, and it’s now myfavourite! I hope to grow up andbecome a doctor now!”“The workshop was atransformative experience forme. The children are now moreengaged and the kind of questions
they ask in class show how
interested they have become.”

Praneesh GoudClass 8 student, Telangana

PushpaSchool teacher, Bengaluru

yearbook 2023/24
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49
49

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview
Promoting science anddigital learning
Project focus+ Blimey

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

FOCUS AREA

Promoting scienceand digital learning+ Experiential science learning+ Promoting inclusive
education

To improve access digital literacy and technology-based
education, Cognizant Foundation supported various
initiatives which included providing digital devices toschool children, teacher training, empowering children
from migrant communities, and more. Persons with vision
impairment were provided with the opportunity to learn anddevelop digital skills using tech-enabled platforms.

KEY PROGRAMMESDigital learning for persons withvisual impairment
Digital learning for underserved children
Experiential science learning
yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow50

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview
Promoting science anddigital learning

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

FOCUS AREA

Impact in detail

Project focus+ Blimey+ Experiential science learning+ Promoting inclusive
education

86,873
lives impacted in 2023/24

34,147 visually impaired learners supported
through Blimey platform
50,385 school children reached
2100 teachers trained
180 community members trained
61 children with visual impairments supported
through early intervention programmes

Partners

Locations

Agastya International
Foundation

Sirsi in Karnataka,
Coimbatore in
Tamil Nadu andMedchal in Telangana

EnAble India

Pan-India

Help The Blind Foundation Pan-India
NIRMAAN
Organization

Multiple districts in
Telangana

The American India
Foundation Trust

Ganjam in Odisha

yearbook 2023/24
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51
51

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview
Promoting science anddigital learning
Project focus

Blimey+ Experiential science learning+ Promoting inclusive
education

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllPROJECT FOCUS

Digital learning for persons
with visual impairment
Blimey is a cloud-enabled, digital self-learning platform, developedwith support from Cognizant Foundation, that enables visually
impaired users to learn new-age skills.

This open platform uses screen readers like NVDA, JAWS
and magnifiers to help learners master hundreds of topics
at their own pace. The in-built “test mode” also allows users
to independently evaluate their progress using real world
scenarios and job simulations. It’s accessible in both online andoffline versions and in multiple Indian languages to cater tothe needs of students from the remote parts of the country.

34,147
visually impaired learners empowered in 2023/24

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

Partners

Locations

EnAble India

Pan-India
52

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview
Promoting science anddigital learning
Project focus+ Blimey

Experiential science learning+ Promoting inclusive
education

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllPROJECT FOCUS

Experiential sciencelearning
As part of Cognizant Foundation’s focus on enabling access to
STEAM education for underprivileged students, a science centre
and mobile science lab have been set up for schoolchildren
and teachers. The science centre acts as a hub for visitors fromnearby schools to have access to the models and experiments
while mobile science lab acts as a spoke extending the reachof the science centre to remote areas. Science fairs, teacher
training sessions and young-instructor training are also
conducted as part of the programme.

8,369
learners supported in 2023/24
Partner

Locations

Agastya International
Foundation

Sirsi in Karnataka, Coimbatore in
Tamil Nadu and Medchal in Telangana

yearbook 2023/24
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53

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2019, to improve career prospects of visually impaired learners,
Cognizant Foundation supported the expansion of the existing
scholarship programme (implemented through Help The Blind
Foundation) to include Education Mobility and Employability Training.
Since 2022, students have also been given smart vision glasses- a unique AI-powered wearable that allows for real-time object
identification, facial recognition, and more.
In 2023-24, the existing EMET was enhanced into an Early Intervention
Training programme to support visually impaired students at a schoollevel. The pilot phase was launched in Poonamallee Blind School,
Chennai, for students of grades 9 - 12. Based on positive outcomes, itwill be expanded to other Government schools.

Introduction

Messages from the board

Overview

STEAM4All+ Programme overview+ Promoting science anddigital learning
Promoting inclusive
education
Project focus+ Resource centres

for dyslexic children

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

FOCUS AREA

Promoting inclusive
education
An inclusive schooling system will not only improve learning
outcomes for children, but can also be critical in promotingsocial integration and reducing discrimination. In orderto promote inclusivity, Cognizant Foundation supported
initiatives aimed at capacity building for teachers, andcreating and supporting inclusive pedagogies withspecial focus on children with special needs and building
computational thinking.
KEY PROGRAMMESConnected Learning & Research on
Inclusive Education
Teacher development for inclusive schools
Resource centres for dyslexic children
yearbook 2023/24
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55

Introduction

Messages from the board

Overview

STEAM4All+ Programme overview+ Promoting science anddigital learning

Operational highlights

Excellence4All+ Resource centres

for dyslexic children

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

FOCUS AREA

Impact in detail

Promoting inclusive
education
Project focus

Health4All

21,816
lives impacted in 2023/24

20,084 students supported
1,732 teachers empoweredPartners

Locations

IT for Change

Bengaluru in
Karnataka

Madras Dyslexia
Association

Multiple locations in
Tamil Nadu

Sri RamcharanCharitable Trust

Chennai in
Tamil Nadu

Tata Institute of Social
Sciences

Mumbai in
Maharashtra

Vision Empower TrustMultiple locations in
Tamil Nadu andWest Bengal

yearbook 2023/24
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56

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview+ Promoting science anddigital learning
Promoting inclusive
education
Project focus

Resource centres
for dyslexic children

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllPROJECT FOCUS

Resource centres
for dyslexic children
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects almost 15%of all children in India. However, through early intervention,
specialist teaching techniques, and specialised strategies, thecondition can be overcome. To attend to the needs of dyslexic
students from low-income backgrounds, Cognizant Foundation
has supported the creation of special resource rooms in
Government schools. Since its launch in 2020, the project hashelped create a well-structured process of monitoring andhand-holding of school management and special educators toensure children receive quality remediation.

530
lives impacted in 2023/24

Partners

Locations

Madras Dyslexia
Association

Multiple districts in
Tamil Nadu

yearbook 2023/24
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57

Introduction

Messages from the board

Overview

STEAM4All

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

Excellence4All

Programme overview
Project focus+ Graduate study in

special education

Nurturing aspirations
through higher learning
More often than not, the dreams and aspirations of youth
who come from low economic backgrounds, especiallythose who suffer some form of disability, are stifled by theirinability to access higher education in reputable institutions.
Cognizant Foundation’s Excellence4All programme provides
scholarships to deserving candidates in NAAC-accredited
colleges across the country.

FOCUS AREAS

Graduate study in STEAM

Graduate study in special education

Post-graduate study in social sciences
yearbook 2023/24
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58

Introduction

Messages from the board

Overview

STEAM4All

Programme overview
Project focus+ Graduate study in

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

Impact in detailspecial education

1,826
learners supported

22
projects implemented

4
partners“You gave me the hope that I’llreach my goal and I promise that
I will do the same as a donor in
the future. I don’t have enoughwords of gratitude for Cognizant
Foundation’s kind gesture.”“Cognizant Foundation’s trust in
my abilities has been a driving
force in my academic journey. I
intend to continue working hardand striving for excellence in all
aspects of my life.”

Sonali Gupta
MNNIT, Allahabad

Dipak Kanzariya
IIT BHU, Varanasi

yearbook 2023/24
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59

Introduction

Messages from the board

Overview

STEAM4All

Programme overview
Project focus+ Graduate study in

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

Partner focus

special education

Partners

Reach

Buddy4Study India
Foundation

115 scholars

Christel House

36 scholars

Cognizant Foundation
Excellence Programme

291 scholars

Foundation for Excellence

578 scholars

Help the Blind Foundation

806 scholars

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow60

Introduction

Messages from the board

Overview

STEAM4All

Programme overview
Project focus

Graduate study in
special education

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllPROJECT FOCUS

Graduate Study inSpecial Education
The prevalence of children with disabilities in India is on the rise,with UNESCO’s 2019 State of the Education Report indicatingaround 79 lakh affected children. In stark contrast, there are
only around 1.20 lakh registered special educators under the
Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Therefore, it is imperative
to establish comprehensive training programmes for general
educators to effectively address diverse learning requirements.
B.Ed. Special Education is a 2-year full-time undergraduate
programme that trains teachers to teach differently-abledchildren. This scholarship program supports students inpursuing this course at NAAC-accredited and RCI-approved
institutions, enabling them to become special educators.
52
scholars supported in 2023/24

yearbook 2023/24
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Partners

Locations

Andhra University, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam,
Alagappa University, The National Institute for Empowerment of
Persons with Multiple Disabilities (Divyangjan) [NIEPMD] and others

Pan-India
61

DID YOU KNOW?

It was back in 2008 that Cognizant Foundation initiated a merit-cummeans scholarship for graduate study in engineering. The programme
supported aspiring engineers not only with financial assistance but
also mentoring and job readiness skills. Over time, this programme was
extended to include deserving students pursuing other undergraduate
courses in arts and sciences as well. This was particularly crucial as
graduates from non-engineering courses are a significant portion ofIndia’s job market.

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

Tech4All

Programme overview+ IT/ITeS skilling

Enabling 21st century
learning+ Employability skilling+ Vocational technicaleducation

Tech4All is one of Cognizant Foundation’s signature
initiatives which aims to tap into the growing demand forskilled employees in India’s tech sector. Relevant training
is provided to persons with disabilities and women from
economically weaker backgrounds to promote inclusion
and help them build a successful career in IT/ITeS. While thefoundation supports non-tech skills training programmes as
well, most of the projects under Tech4All have a strong techcomponent when it comes to training and placement.
KEY PROGRAMMES

IT/ITeS skilling
Employability skilling

Cognizant Foundation Yearbook 2023/24
Elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

Vocational technical education
63

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All

Programme overview+ IT/ITeS skilling

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

Impact in detail+ Employability skilling+ Vocational technicaleducation

6,826
lives impacted

18
projects implemented

14
partners“Without the support I received
from Cognizant Foundation andSarthak, I wouldn’t have beenable to support my family. I am
now determined to pay it forward
and help others in need.”“Thanks to Cognizant
Foundation, people now see
my abilities, not my disability. I
finally have the confidence that
I’ll be successful in life, both
personally and professionally”

Jahnavi
Sarthak Educational Trust trainee

MaheshCheshire Disability Trust trainee

Cognizant Foundation Yearbook 2023/24
Elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow64

Introduction

Messages from the board

Overview

STEAM4All+ Programme overview
IT/ITeS skilling
Project focus+ Advanced IT training

for young women+ Employability skilling+ Vocational technicaleducation

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

FOCUS AREA

IT/ITeS Skilling
India is among the fastest growing digital economies in
the world and offers a lot of employment opportunities
for individuals who have sufficient tech skills. Throughthis initiative, Cognizant Foundation supports relevant
training to women and PwDs from economically weakersections of society for a successful career in technology
and technology-enabled services.

5,820
lives impacted in 2023/24

4,764 women trained
956 PwDs trained
1,901 candidates placed

Partners

Technical skills

Dr. Reddy’s Foundation

BPO voice and non-voice

ICT Academy of
Tamil Nadu

A.I., data analytics, robotic
process automation, cloud
networking, CRM

New Resolution India

ITeS and web design

Centum Foundation

Java/XML/Python

Magic Bus India
Foundation

AWS

Anudip Foundation forSocial Welfare

Java/Dot Net/Cloud Computing

Lok Bharti Education
Society

Digital marketing and web design

Sarthak Educational Trust

IT–ITeS, organised retail, andtourism & hospitality

yearbook 2023/24
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Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview
IT/ITeS skilling
Project focus

Advanced IT training
for young women+ Employability skilling+ Vocational technicaleducation

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllPROJECT FOCUS

Advanced IT training
for young women
Young women from low socio-economic backgrounds in
India often face significant challenges in accessing training
in advanced IT skills because of financial constraints, limitedaccess to technology, educational inequities, etc. Thesebarriers also further widens the gender gap in education andemployment opportunities, particularly in the tech industry.
To address this issue, Cognizant Foundation supported
the establishment of Centers of Excellence for Women
Empowerment in selective colleges/institutions, through which
free of cost training has been imparted to young womenstudents in 6 advanced IT skills. The project was able to place
60% of the trained women enabling them to achieve financial
independence and contribute to the well-being of their families.
3,712 women trained within 71 Centers of Excellence
for Women Empowerment in 2023/24

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

Partner

LocationsICT Academy of Tamil Nadu

Karnataka, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Telangana

66

DID YOU KNOW?

In India, approximately 71% of girls do not own a mobile phone
and 79% of families do not own a computer. Only around 33%
of girls aged 15-19 in states like UP have regular access to theinternet. A substantial portion of female college students from
low-income backgrounds, lack access to necessary digital tools
and women make up only about 29% of students in STEM fields,
including IT. However, emerging technologies such as 5G, Cloud,IoT etc. are paving the way for more opportunities for women.
Cognizant Foundation, under the Tech4All programme,collaborates with colleges through NGO partnerships and offers
advanced IT training in Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics,
Robotic Process Automation, Cloud, Networking, and CRM toyoung college-going women to get trained and placed in IT jobs.

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview+ IT/ITeS skilling
Employability skilling
Project focus+ Training in home nursing+ Vocational technicaleducation

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

FOCUS AREA

Employability skilling
Cognizant Foundation partnered with credible skill-training
providers and organisations to identify, train, and support
job placements for non-tech-related roles. These strategic
programmes continued our efforts to improve inclusivity,with a large portion focused on women and persons withdisabilities.

851
lives impacted in 2023/24

Partners

Non-technical skills

Association for
Non-traditional
Employment for Women

Fin-tech (TALLY), home-nursing
and auxiliary nursing care

Cheshire Disability Trust

Banking and financePratham Education
Foundation

General duty assistance training

The Association of People
with Disability

BPO, e-commerce, horticulture,and hospitality training

419 PwDs trained
488 women trained
79.6% overall placement

yearbook 2023/24
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68

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview+ IT/ITeS skilling
Employability skilling
Project focus

Training in home nursing+ Vocational technicaleducation

Excellence4All

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4AllPROJECT FOCUS

Training in home nursing
The demand for home nurses in India has been growing
significantly, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To cater to this demand, Cognizant Foundation has supported
the training of women as professional home nurses. These
women come from underprivileged background with minimal
educational qualifications. They are trained in core nursing
skills, life skills, self-defence & English over 6 months. The project
was able to place more than 80% of these trained women in
individual patient care at homes, hospitals and clinics. This freeof cost training, offered in offline mode, is a good opportunity
for these women to climb up the socio-economic ladder andcontribute to the well-being of their families.

75 women trained and
70 women placed in 2023/24

Partner

Location

Association of Non-Traditional
Employment for Women (ANEW)

Chennai,
Tamil Nadu

yearbook 2023/24
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69

DID YOU KNOW?

According to the 2011 Census, only about 36% of PwDs in India hadmeaningful employment. More recent estimates suggest that thisnumber has remained relatively unchanged in the years since. High-skill
jobs remain largely inaccessible to PwDs due to a lack of education andtraining opportunities tailored to their needs. Meanwhile, according to
the ILO, over 90% of working women in India are in the informal sector.
Enhancing skill development programs for these groups, with a focus
on employability and industry alignment, could significantly improvetheir chances of finding meaningful employment.
The employability training programmes funded by Cognizant
Foundation equip women and PwDs with skills relevant to sectors
like Fin-tech, Home Nursing, General Duty Assistance, Horticulture,
E-commerce, BPO, and Hospitality.

Introduction
Overview

Messages from the board
STEAM4All+ Programme overview+ IT/ITeS skilling+ Employability skilling
Vocational technicaleducation

Operational highlights

Excellence4All

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Tech4All

FOCUS AREA

Vocational technicaleducation
In India, there is a growing recognition of the importanceof vocational education to address the country’s
unemployment challenges and meet the demands of a
rapidly changing job market. As part of the Foundation’s
inclusion initiatives, institutions were identified to improveaccess to vocational technical education among young
women and persons with disabilities (PwDs). Various trade
based technical skilling programmes, benchmarked withindustry standards and approved by skill sector councils,
were supported during the year.

155
lives impacted in 2023/24
Partners

LocationsDr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital and
Nettur Technical Training Foundation

Delhi, NCR andBengaluru, Karnataka

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71

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite progress, only around 10% of India’s workforce has undergone
any form of skill training, indicating a significant gap in vocational
education coverage. Women’s participation in vocational education
is growing, but it remains lower than male participation. While there
are programmes like DDU-GKY, PMKVY and NSDC’s training to support
vocational training of PwDs, the actual participation and outcomesare still below desired levels. According to NSSO 2018-19 survey only
0.1% of PwDs received formal vocational training.
Cognizant Foundation funds Certified Ophthalmic Paramedics (COP)
training for young women and ITI in Electronic Mechanics for PwDs
supporting them to complete education and making a sustainable
impact on their lives by placing them in decent jobs.

Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Leveraging the powerof volunteers to makea difference
At Cognizant Foundation India, we are committed to elevate our communities
towards a brighter tomorrow. We also support organisations in capacity building
and community engagement initiatives driven by the dedicated volunteers of
Cognizant Outreach, who have generously contributed their time and skills to avariety of initiatives, ranging from digital literacy, creating audio stories for school
children, mock interviews, school eye screening, toy donations, to pro-bonovolunteering and more. Through their efforts, we have fostered positive change
and development.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding our volunteer initiatives,
encouraging even greater participation, and making a difference in more lives.
Thank you to all our volunteers for their dedication and passion.

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Introduction

Messages from the board

Operational highlights

Health4All

Future4All

Volunteering

Volunteer Testimonies“I honestly don’t know how to start with the details. I had
initially assumed that it was a 1-hour activity where I had
to go to a hospital and give toys to kids. But I was totallywrong. The impact of this event will stay with me forever.
As a kid, I had a wonderful time, and lots of love andcare. I am basically a sensitive person when it comesto children, and I was very disturbed and worried
when seeing those many children going throughsomething very unfortunate. But the children andparents didn’t show any distress or sorrow,they were very friendly and interacted withus a lot. The willpower of the parents,
doctors, and the daily efforts they put
in to getting their children to reachmilestones, and to send themback to schools taught mesomething which is very
important and will bepreserved in my mind
and heart forever.”“It was indeed a special experience addressing two
batches of Diploma & College grads (Nursing and B.
Com). We are sure the laptops that were distributed(Batch 1 – 10 laptops) are in the right hands and would
help them level up in their respective specialisations.

Through Cognizant Foundation & Outreach, I got theopportunity to support our friends with visual difficulties.
The first time, on January 24, 2024, I was in a Government
School in Tiruvallur, where we were organising an eyescreening camp.

I was happy to see the energy, enthusiasm andinquisitiveness of this group of students and how
motivated they are to face the challenges thatawait them in their career. It was an inspirational
and proud moment for all of us. This inturn gives us the next batch of college
graduates who are trained by the NGO
and ready to start in their roles asfinance associates.”

I remember the first time I was screened in one suchcamp in my school, when I was in Class 2. If I had
followed the ophthalmologist’s recommendationon that day, to wear a spectacle, it would haveeliminated my struggles over the next 4 years- the most important phase of my primaryschool education.

Lavanya Thumilan

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elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

Nithya Srivatsan

When I got the opportunity tohelp our kids to avoid such asituation, through the eyescreening camp, it wasalmost like travellingthrough time to fix
my past.”Dhilip Kumar K.M.

74

Appendix
Impact Stories

Appendix
Index of
Impact Stories
Health4All

Future4All

Sight4All
How Raman, a tea plucker, overcame blindness
Story of Baby Niranjan - abandoned at birth with ROP

STEAM4All
How experiential education has helped Praneesh
How tech-enhancements are helping Pushpa teachCare4All
Story of Seema, a malnourished mother-to-be
Story of Jagadeeshwari’s pregnancy journey

Excellence4All
Story of Sonali, a computer science student
Story of Dipak, a chemical engineering student

Support4All
Story of Suraj, a differently-abled child
How Shraddha is overcoming growth challenges

Tech4AllHow Jahnavi overcame her disability to work in IT
How Mahesh got the confidence to pursue his dreams

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Appendix
Health4All >Sight4All

Case story“The level of care and attention I received from the Vision Centre team
before, during and after my surgery was wonderful. Thanks to Cognizant
Foundation for supporting such a great project.”Raman Bora*, a daily-wage labourer from AssamFor 29-year-old Raman Bora*, his family was his world. After his wife’s
tragic passing, Raman had to take complete responsibility for raising
three young daughters, not to mention caring for his elderly father anduncle. His daily wage, earned as a tea plucker in the Bokakhat Tea Estate,
was what the family depended on for their livelihood.
Around four years ago, Raman had started to notice that his eyesight was
getting blurry. Things that used to look sharp started having fuzzy edges.
To get a medical check done would mean travelling long distances andspending money he did not have, not to mention the loss of earnings. So,
like most people in his situation, Raman ignored the increasing blurrinessand focused on the day-to-day instead.
Darkness crept up faster than Raman could imagine, though. Within a
few months, his eyesight had deteriorated so much that he could only
perceive light and vague movement. He could no longer work properly
and the vibrant tea gardens that were once a source of joy was no longer
accessible to him.
For over two years, the family struggled to survive with whatever meagre
earnings Raman’s father and uncle could get, and with the help of otherrelatives and friends. Raman was completely blind and depended onothers for the simplest of tasks.

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A ray of light emerged when an eye screening camp was held in the tea
estate by the Bokakhat Vision Centre team, supported by Cognizant
Foundation. With his father’s help, Raman attended the camp where he
was diagnosed with cataracts. When he was told that the condition was
reversible and that all treatment would be given free of cost, Raman was
overwhelmed with happiness.
Within a day of diagnosis, Raman was shifted to Chandraprabha Eye
Hospital for surgery. The procedure went smoothly, and his life was
illuminated once again. Raman followed all post-operative requirements
diligently and the Vision Centre team soon happily declared that his
eyesight was back to near normal.
“The day I stopped being able to see my daughters’ faces was the day I
stopped feeling alive. All I could think about was how I was being a burden
to those I love the most. I have stepped out of that darkness thanks to yoursupport. I can return to work again and care for my family,” Raman says.
“The level of care and attention I received from the Vision Centre team
before, during and after my surgery was wonderful. Thanks to Cognizant
Foundation for supporting such a great project. I have gotten a second
chance at life and will forever be thankful for it,” he added.
* Name changed to maintain privacy.

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77Appendix
Health4All >Sight4All

Case story“I have a son today and he can see the world only because of the
Cognizant Foundation - LVPEI team. I will always have you in my prayers andhope that you’re able to help more people.”
Adoptive father of Baby Niranjan*, a newborn with ROP from Odisha
The forests of Baripada in Odisha are known for their vibrant flora andfauna. Covered by a network of perennial streams, it is a habitat for tigers,
elephants, deer, and numerous tropical birds, and is always filled withsounds of life. For locals of the region, the evergreen forest is a source of
livelihood as well. One of them, Rajbir*, had the habit of going into thejungle before sunrise to collect medicinal plants for his small stall in thelocal market.

yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrowa mini-operation setup. The baby was given intravitreal injections to botheyes to control the condition.
Once the baby had regained health, he was handed over to a local
adoption agency. During this time, the team continued to ensure thatthe child was regularly monitored and given appropriate care. Within six
months, he was adopted by a loving couple and was named Niranjan*.

Early one morning, in April 2023, Rajbir’s routine was broken by a spinechilling sound - the wail of a baby in distress. Without a second thought,
he went hunting for the source of the sound and what he found broke hisheart - an abandoned newborn in a clearly malnourished state. The baby
was rushed to DHH Mayurbhanj and was immediately admitted into the
SNCU for emergency care and stabilisation. The paediatric team burned
the midnight oil to bring the newborn back from a near-death situation.

The Cognizant Foundation - LVPEI team ensured that the new parents
knew of baby Niranjan’s eye history and requested that the baby bebrought in for a detailed examination after his first birthday. The parents
were more than happy to oblige and the baby was evaluated throughrefraction and fundus fluorescein angiogram to detect any reactivationof retinopathy. ROP was detected in both eyes and this time, doctors wereable to treat it immediately using laser photocoagulation. Niranjan is now
growing up well and is the apple of his parents’ eyes.

After his condition started improving, the baby boy for ROP Telescreening- a programme that was being run in the district by Cognizant Foundationand LVPEI. The team at Bhubaneswar detected the presence ofAggressive Retinopathy of Prematurity (AROP) in both eyes. Since there
were no parents or guardians, shifting the baby would be a challenge andso the ROP specialist and the nursing staff travelled to Mayurbhanj with“I have a son today and he is able to see the world only because of the
Cognizant Foundation - LVPEI team. The amount of care and follow-ups
the team did for my son was more than I could’ve ever imagined. I will
always have you in my prayers and hope that you’re able to help more
people,” says Mr. Mukesh*, Niranjan’s adoptive father.
* Names changed to maintain privacy.

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Appendix
Health4All >Care4All

Case story“Thanks to the counselling I received from the outreach worker, I was able totake care of myself better and give birth to a healthy baby.”
Seema Khan*, a 32-year-old mother from Malegaon in Maharashtra

A resident of Malegaon in Maharashtra, 32-year-old Seema Khan* is amother of two. Her first child is 12 years old, while her second has justturned two. She delivered both her children at home, with her mother-inlaw acting as the midwife. Their small, one-bedroom chawl is also home
to four adults—Seema, her husband, and his elderly parents—and thefamily was already struggling to make ends meet.
Most of Seema’s day was spent taking care of her family, leaving her
little time to focus on her own health. In September 2023, as part of thecommunity screening effort supported by Cognizant Foundation, she wasvisited by an outreach worker (ORW). After spending time with her, theORW discovered that Seema had been experiencing nausea, weakness,and secondary amenorrhea for the past few months. Further medical
examinations at the local clinic and civil hospital revealed that Seema
was in her fifth month of pregnancy. She was also found to be extremely
anaemic, with a dangerously low haemoglobin level.
Given that she was a high-risk mother, Seema was immediately enrolled
in Project Suraksha. During regular follow-up visits, she was counselled on
the importance of eating nutritious food, the first 1000 days of life, dietary
supplements like folic acid, iron, and calcium, as well as best childcare
practices and more. The importance of institutional delivery was alsoemphasized. These sessions were not just for the expectant mother, but
yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrowalso for her family, to raise awareness about good antenatal care. After
rigorous counselling over the next few months, the family agreed to opt for
an institutional delivery.
Seema overcame all health complications and gave birth to a healthy
baby at the local civil hospital. The Project Suraksha ORW continued toprovide counselling to ensure the family was aware of beneficial practices
like exclusive breastfeeding for six months. As a result of the awarenesssessions, Seema opted for tubal ligation as a family planning measure.
“My life had reached a point where I was so overwhelmed by everythingthat I had lost focus on my well-being. So much so that I didn’t even realizethat I was five months pregnant!” Seema said. “Thanks to the counselling I
received from the outreach worker, I was able to take better care of myself
and give birth to a healthy baby.”* Names changed to maintain privacy.

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79Appendix
Health4All >Care4All

Case story“There was a point, right before my daughter was born, that I thought wewould lose her forever. Thanks to Cognizant Foundation’s help, she will havea long, beautiful future.”
Jagadeeshwari*, a 29-year-old high-risk expectant mother from Thiruthani in Tamil Nadu
Mrs. Jagadeeshwari*, a 29-year-old expectant mother from Thiruthani,
Tamil Nadu, was going through a challenging time. She was excited aboutbecoming a mother, but her health made the journey more complicatedthan she had hoped. Jagadeeshwari suffered from severe anaemia—acondition that put both her and her unborn child in danger—and she
didn’t know how to address this crisis.
Amidst the shadow of uncertainty, a ray of hope emerged in the form of
an outreach worker (ORW) from the maternal and child health project run
by Ekam, with support from Cognizant Foundation. The ORW embarked
on a mission to support Jagadeeshwari in her journey and, recognizing theimportance of nutrition in fighting anaemia, advised a change in diet.
Incorporating iron-rich foods like leafy greens was easier said than done,
however, as these foods made Jagadeeshwari nauseous. The Ekam ORW
persisted and found creative solutions, such as boiling green vegetables
into a soup to make them more palatable.

Slowly but steadily, a remarkable transformation came overJagadeeshwari. Her haemoglobin levels surged, which not only alleviatedthe threat of anaemia but also paved the way for a healthier and safer
pregnancy. She has since given birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl.
“There was a point, right before my daughter was born, when I thought
we would lose her forever. Thanks to Cognizant Foundation’s help, shewill have a long, beautiful future,” Jagadeeshwari says. “This initiative hastaught me a lot about nutrition, both for me and for the baby, and I am
going to share this knowledge with as many people as I can.”* Names changed to maintain privacy.

Vitamin C is also important in promoting iron absorption, so her intake
of tomatoes, lemons, and guava was increased. During every step of
the process, the ORW made sure that the mother-to-be understood thereasons behind the dietary changes and had all the information needed
to make better nutritional decisions in the future as well.

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80Appendix
Health4All >Support4All

Case story“The change that this therapy has brought in my son is unbelievable. I am
thankful to Cognizant Foundation for giving us hope when it seemed lost.”
Father of Suraj*, a specially-abled child from Kolkata in West Bengal“Around the time my son Suraj* turned one year old, it became clear to
all of us that he would not be a normal child. As he grew older, it becamevery hard for us to handle him too. I am a daily wage worker in a local
factory and the only earning member of the family – which meant thatmost of the time, it was my wife’s responsibility to take care of him.
Suraj never learned to speak properly, and he would drool a lot and makebubbling sounds. I tried to enrol him in the local government school, but
his condition meant that they couldn’t handle him. I can’t afford to send
him anywhere else to study. He was not able to focus on anything, which
also made him hyperactive. He never looked anyone in the eye andcouldn’t walk properly either. Because of this, I was never able to send him
to school.
It was last year, when he turned 12, that I got to know about theGovernment resource centres supported by Cognizant Foundation forchildren like him. I took him there, and he was assessed by therapists who
set various goals for him that we could achieve together. I started taking
him to the centre twice a week to access speech therapy, physiotherapy,
behavioural, and dance movement therapies.

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Time with the speech therapist has helped decrease his drooling andimprove eye contact. The physiotherapist had him do various exercises likestanding on one leg and squats to improve strength and build flexibility.
In the last three months, his drooling has almost completely stopped, andhe has started saying our names and some small phrases when required.
He can even walk for a bit now! The change that this therapy has brought
in my son is unbelievable. I am thankful to Cognizant Foundation forgiving us hope when it seemed lost.”

Mr. Ramkumar*
Father of Suraj* Names changed to maintain privacy.

Return to main section81Appendix
Health4All >Support4All

Case story“A lot of people told us that our child will never be able to talk or walk
properly. Thanks to Cognizant Foundation’s support, she is growing into abeautiful child.
Mother of Shraddha*, a 5-year-old with impaired development from Karnataka
Five-year-old Shraddha* lives with her parents – both daily-wagelabourers – in a small village in Karnataka. In the early months, herdevelopment had seemed normal. But, as she approached her firstbirthday, her parents noticed that she was not walking or talking likeother kids her age. However, due to a lack of financial resources andunderstanding, they did not seek proper diagnostic treatment or
rehabilitation. Instead, they relied on traditional practices, visiting temples
and performing rituals in the hope of a miracle.
Unfortunately, the lack of timely medical intervention caused Shraddha’s
condition to worsen. Her parents, burdened by misconceptions and thebelief that medicine would not help, could only watch on as her disabilities
became more pronounced.
Shraddha’s situation changed when she was visited by a community
early interventionist as part of a project by the Association of People
by Disability, supported by Cognizant Foundation. The interventionist
assessed her situation, and with empathy and patience, addressed all her
parents’ misconceptions and emphasized the importance of rehabilitation
services.

by teaching them basic therapy skills so they could continue her treatment
at home, following the concept of “mother as the interventionist.”
With regular intervention, Shraddha’s progress has been remarkable. She
has started walking independently and can now say words like “Appa”(father), “Amma” (mother), and other common phrases. Her parents are
overjoyed to see their daughter reaching developmental milestones andimproving each day.
Talking about Shraddha’s growth, her mother shared, “A lot of people
told us that our child will never be able to talk or walk properly. Thanks to
Cognizant Foundation’s support, she is growing into a beautiful child.”* Names changed to maintain privacy.

Specific rehabilitation goals were set for the child and the team started
supporting Shraddha’s growth. They also empowered Shraddha’s parents

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Appendix
Future4All >STEAM4All

Case story“Science used to be my weakest subject. But, because of the hands-on
method of learning, I am able to understand concepts better, and it’s now
my favourite! I hope to grow up and become a doctor now!”
Praneesh Goud, a Class 8 student from Telangana
A Class 8 student at ZPHS Machavaram, Praneesh comes from a modest
background. His family of 4 consists of his father - an RTC driver and solebreadwinner of the family, his mother - a dedicated homemaker, andhis sister who is currently in class 10.However, his family’s limited means
has never been a stumbling block in his determination to excel in his
education.
One of the major reasons for his interest in studies is the experiential
classes offered by Agastya International Foundation, in association with
Cognizant Foundation. He is an active participant in various scientificactivities at school, such as soil percolation, magnetic force experiments,and electric circuits. These hands-on experiences bring him joy and help
him grasp scientific concepts with ease. His curiosity doesn’t stop at theclassroom door—at home, he constructed an electric circuit model todeepen his understanding of conductors. His commitment to learning
extends to group activities, where he values the power of collaborationand its role in his personal and academic growth.

Although Praneesh has not yet participated in Agastya’s science fairs,
his enthusiasm for applying what he’s learned is clear. He eagerly built agrass cutter model for his school’s science fair, showcasing the concepts
he absorbed during Agastya sessions. His growing interest in science isalso reflected in his everyday life—he even explains different soil types tohis parents, helping them understand the best conditions for cultivating
vegetables in their home garden.
“Science used to be my weakest subject. But, because of the hands-on
method of learning, I am able to understand concepts better, and it’s now
my favourite!”, Praneesh continues. “I hope to grow up and become adoctor now!”“I was not always like this in class,” Praneesh says. “I always wanted to
study, but I was not able to fully understand what the teachers were
saying. But, Agastya classes are different. There are a lot of interactive
sessions and experiments and that helps me fully grasp the concepts.”

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83Appendix
Future4All >STEAM4All

Case story“The workshop was a transformative experience for me. The children are
now more engaged and the kind of questions they ask in class show how
interested they have become.”
Pushpa, a science and language teacher from Bengaluru
Pushpa, the science and language teacher at Chunchagatta Government
Higher Primary School in Bengaluru, has dedicated over 20 years of herlife to her passion for teaching. Her commitment to her students is evident
in her constant quest for new and innovative teaching methods that makelearning more engaging and impactful.
With a strong interest in mathematics as well, Pushpa was quick to seize
the opportunity to attend a workshop organized by IT for Change andCognizant Foundation. She knew that any new insights she gained could
transform the way she taught and, in turn, benefit her students.
During the workshop, Pushpa was introduced to the idea of incorporating
technology into her teaching methods. She learned how digital tools
and resources could be seamlessly integrated into her lessons to makecomplex concepts more accessible. One of the most exciting discoveries
for her was the kiwix application, which allowed her to access a wealth oflanguage lab story resources directly on her mobile phone. This made iteasy for her to bring these resources into the classroom, helping students
with proper pronunciation and enhancing their language skills.

allowed her students to experiment with concepts like voltage and theflow of electricity, without any expert intervention.
The impact of these new teaching methods was immediately evident
in her classroom. Students who were usually quiet began to engage
more actively in the lessons. Those who were typically talkative were now
intrigued by the opportunity to explore answers independently throughtechnology. The deeper understanding and excitement were palpable,with some students even conducting experiments at home, eager to test
what they had learned in class.

Reflecting on here experience, Pushpa said, “The workshop was atransformative experience for me. The children are now more engaged
and the kind of questions they ask in class show how interested they havebecome. I plan on incorporating these teaching resources more into mylessons so that my students are able to learn better.”

But it wasn’t just language that benefited from this technologicalintegration. The workshop also introduced Pushpa to PhET simulations,specifically the simulation of electric circuits. These interactive tools

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84

Appendix

Case story“You gave me the hope that I’ll reach my goal and I promise that I will dothe same as a donor in the future. I don’t have enough words of gratitude
for Cognizant Foundation’s kind gesture.”

Future4All >Excellence4All

Sonali Gupta, a computer science student from Uttar Pradesh
Dear Cognizant Foundation,
My name is Sonali, and I am from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
I am someone who embraces challenges with positivity anddetermination. I am career-oriented, a quick learner, and face obstacleswith courage. Since childhood, I have dreamed of becoming a software
engineer and creating computer applications that make a difference.
My family has faced many financial challenges. My father earns a modest
income, which often falls short of covering our expenses. At times, wehave had to borrow money, and I’ve seen my parents struggle to pay it
back. This reality has been my driving force to work hard and pursue mygoals.
Every student, especially those from low-income backgrounds like mine,encounters moments when financial assistance is crucial. For me, thatmoment came when, after months of hard work, I secured admission to
the Computer Science programme at Motilal Nehru National Institute ofTechnology, Allahabad. But I knew the fees would be too much for myfather to bear.
Just when I was considering not enrolling in the course, I learned about
the scholarship programmes offered by the Foundation for Excellencein partnership with Cognizant Foundation. The day my application was
accepted was one of the best days of my life. The scholarship has lifted
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elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrowthe burden of fees, allowing me to fully focus on my studies. I am happy
to share that I have been performing well academically, maintaining a
CGPA of 8.9 across four semesters. I have also actively participated in Skill
Training and Mentorship programmes.
My father has always been a source of strength for me. He advises me
to stay grounded and take things step by step, without fear of failure.
Even when I stumble, he encourages me to try again, and his unwavering
belief in me gives me the strength to face any challenge. Thanks to yoursupport, I am confident that I can make him proud one day.
I aspire to start my own company in the future, but first, I plan to secure ahigh position in an MNC to gain the necessary experience and funds. Your
support has given me the hope and determination to reach my goal, andI promise to pay it forward as a donor in the future. Words cannot fully
express my gratitude for Cognizant Foundation’s kindness.

Sincerely,
Sonali Gupta
III year, MNNIT, Allahabad

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Appendix

Case story“Cognizant Foundation’s trust in my abilities has been a driving force inmy academic journey. I intend to continue working hard and striving forexcellence in all aspects of my life.”

Future4All >Excellence4All

Dipak Kanzariya, a chemical engineering student from Gujarat
Dipak Kanzariya hails from a small village near Jamnagar in Gujarat.
Growing up in a middle-class family that struggled to make ends meet,
Dipak’s life was marked by financial challenges. His father works as afarm labourer, and with a family income of just INR 80,000, covering basic
expenses—including the educational fees for Dipak and his brother—wasa constant struggle. Despite these obstacles, Dipak remained focused on
his dream of pursuing higher education.
From a young age, Dipak demonstrated remarkable dedication to his
studies, maintaining a CGPA of 9.13 across six semesters in college. His
hard work and determination paid off when he secured a job with Digit
Insurance as an Engineering Trainee, with a starting CTC of INR 10 LPA.
Reflecting on his journey and the support he received, Dipak penned aheartfelt letter:
Dear Cognizant Foundation,
I am writing to express my heartfelt appreciation for the incredible
opportunity you have given me through your generous scholarship. Yourassistance has had a significant impact on my life, allowing me to devote
my full attention to my studies without the burden of financial constraints.
I come from a village near Jamnagar, Gujarat. My family consists of fivemembers: my parents, older brother, older sister, and myself. My parents
yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrowwork as farm labourers, my brother completed his MBBS this year and is
now pursuing further education, and my sister recently got married and is
now a homemaker. I want to express my deep gratitude to the FFE teamand to you for providing me with financial support and opportunities
for skill development, particularly through the mentorship program andCoursera courses.
I am pleased to report that I have maintained an outstanding academic
record. Your encouragement has inspired me to strive for excellence ineverything I do. I have joined several clubs and organizations that alignwith my interests and passions. These activities have not only improved
my skills but also instilled in me invaluable leadership qualities.
Please accept my heartfelt gratitude once more for your unwavering
support. Your confidence in my abilities has been a driving force in myacademic journey, and I am determined to make you proud. I intend tocontinue working hard and excelling in all aspects of my life.
Thank you once again for making my dreams come true. May you
continue to inspire and make a difference in the lives of many others.

Yours sincerely,
Dipak Kanzariya
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86Appendix
Future4All >Tech4All

Case story“Without the support I received from Cognizant Foundation and Sarthak, I
wouldn’t have been able to support my family. I am now determined to pay
it forward and help others in need.”
Jahnavi, a Tech4All trainee with locomotor disability from Karnataka
Jahnavi’s story beautifully illustrates the power of courage, resilience, andthe unwavering support of family in overcoming life’s challenges.
Born with a locomotor disability affecting both her legs, Jahnavi’s earlyyears were fraught with difficulty. Coming from a middle-class family
where her father was the sole breadwinner for a family of four, financeswere tight. Yet, her father ensured she received a quality education, evenwhen society offered little support. Throughout her schooling, Jahnavi
faced constant discrimination and ridicule, making her journey all themore challenging.
Amidst these hardships, her father’s unwavering support stood asa beacon of hope. His encouragement allowed her to complete her
education, eventually earning an MBA. However, societal prejudices andmisconceptions resurfaced as she began applying for jobs. Countless
rejections and demoralizing experiences led her to withdraw, questioning
the value of her hard-earned education.
A turning point came when Jahnavi received a call from Sarthak
Educational Trust in Bengaluru, offering her enrolment in their skill-building
programme supported by Cognizant Foundation. Initially hesitant, it was
her father who recognized the opportunity and encouraged her to seize
it. She enrolled the following month and spent the next three months
undergoing employability training.

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In the supportive environment of Sarthak, Jahnavi regained her lost
confidence and honed her soft skills. With renewed determination, she
resumed her job search and soon landed a position as a CRM Domestic
Voice with a competitive salary at a leading IT company.
Reflecting on her journey, Jahnavi shared, “The fact that I was not gettinga job was making me extremely anxious. My father was getting older, andI wanted to earn to ease the burden on his shoulders. Without the support
I received from Cognizant Foundation and Sarthak, I wouldn’t have beenable to support my family. I am now determined to pay it forward andhelp others in need.”

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87Appendix
Future4All >Tech4All

Case story“Thanks to Cognizant Foundation, people now see my ability and not mydisability. I finally have the confidence that I’ll be successful in life, both
personally and professionally.”
Mahesh, a Tech4All trainee with disability from Karnataka
Mahesh, a 21-year-old from Koppal, Karnataka, has experienced morechallenges in his relatively short life than most people can imagine. His
father, a daily wage worker, and his mother, a homemaker, did their best
to support their three children. While his brother and sister got married
and moved on, Mahesh’s life took an unexpected turn when he wasinvolved in an accident that left him unable to move his right hand.

Just when things seemed hopeless, a friend introduced Mahesh to
Cheshire Disability Trust (CDT) and there, he got to know about the IT/ITeS
training programme supported by Cognizant Foundation. Training was
being provided at the Devanahalli centre. It was a long way away from
home, but and he decided to give it a try anyway - a decision that wouldchange his life.

The accident not only affected Mahesh physically but also had aprofound impact on his education. Writing became a struggle, and he
had to endure the cruel jokes and ridicule of his classmates. Despite
these hardships, Mahesh showed incredible resilience and determination,completing his SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate).
Unfortunately, the financial strain at home meant he couldn’t pursue
further studies.

At the centre, Mahesh learned the basics of computers, MS Office, andessential life skills such as positive thinking, grooming, and work ethics.
The training also included sessions on interview preparation and mockinterviews, which together boosted his confidence and prepared him forthe job market.

In search of work, Mahesh took a job at a mobile shop in his hometown.
However, the job paid poorly, and his salary was often delayed.
Disheartened, he eventually quit and spent a year at home, unemployed
and unsure of his future.
He had not lost hope, though, and determined to find a way forward,
Mahesh started searching for jobs again. His disability led to repeatedrejections, and the constant disappointment eventually pushed him into a
deep depression.

Thanks to the skills he gained, Mahesh was able to secure a job with
Central Parking Services at the Bengaluru International Airport. He hassince started as a member of the Logistic Support Services and earns acompetitive salary. He sends a part of it home to ensure that his parents
are safe and happy.
“Thanks to Cognizant Foundation, people now see my abilities, not mydisability. I finally have the confidence that I’ll be successful in life, both
personally and professionally,” says Mahesh reflecting on his journey.

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yearbook 2023/24
elevating communities towards a brighter tomorrow

88elevating communities
towards a brighter
tomorrow
YEARBOOK 2023/24

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